The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-05
TRy ALIENS BEFORE ADOPTING THEM.

aliens holding real estate. A declaration
of citizenship. however, gives the right
If any alien now holding fails TO dispose
of the property during his lifetime upon
his death il escheats to the state. Pretty
steep law that" Far from thinking II
"steep law" reflection will prove
that it is wise and con
servatiye measure. For, take a.
true Henry Georges view of the land
question, thoroughly right to this extent
that mans ownership of the soil ID the
closest tie that binds him to state OIL
country. Mans possession of real estate
gives fxidity to his position acquired In
no other way. without such possession
he is merely a migratory bird, that can
take wing with all his belongings at any
moment, upon any pretext and with no
pecuniary loss to himself. Attach him to
the soil, by such an interest as ownership
and You make him a party TO the govern
ment of the state within whose borders
that real estate is located. The laws OF
that state affect him directly, and he
watches their enactment and en-
forcement with keen attention,
born of more than casual interest
So that, far from this illinois
law being harsh enactment, it is pre-
. cedent the United States and every state OF
the union would do well to follow. And
for obvious reasons, the most important
being this: It is admitted in the farming
element of the country, the element whose
daily bread is wrung from the earth and
whose existence is thereon dependent, Is
the ultimate balance of power. In that
element, the source of supply and support
is also found the sheet-anchor of conserva-
tive government, the great fund OF the
cool. second and best judgment of the ma
ton. The policy of our government in
allowing free and unquestioned immigra-
ton TO our shores, is bringing in class
of people who will soon vastly outnumber
the farmers, class of people restless and
unstable, the majority of them, let 1t be
admitted industrious and capable of be-
ing good citizens, but still mon who will
not take up land and use it, but rather
those who will flock to the large cities and
build up a class of laborers, that in the
hands of wise employers and under Just
and equitable laws.may live peaceable and
industrious lives; yet, when subjected to
the influences that must reign in over
crowded cities, where work often fails, where'
because of business calamities, men by the
thousands are often thrown out of employ
ment, and still worse where because of the
influence of possibly their own
countrymen who have preceded them to
this country, and been longer subject to
the harrassing trials mentioned, they
fall in line with these and join in the
common vail of unjust discrimination
against labor, and the cry that labor
should organize against the cormorant,
capital. II will not do to say this danger
can be averted by compelling these i'm
migrants to 90 at once upon lands.
Many of them are not used to tilling the
SOIL and a failure in this direction would
only result in their finally drifting into
their chosen place-the large city. No,
the remedy tor the evil menacing the
country from this tide of immigration,
is, in the first place, back of the dis
position Of these men when arrived on
our shores-some law should be passed
defining the class of people we will re-
ceive. This, as the first step, to be fol-
lowed by such naturalization laws as will
bind these newcomers to good citizen
ship. This standard of good citizenship
possibly could be best worked out by at
once separating them from the con
Eliminating influences of corrupt cities
and placing them on farms subject to
their control But the sound administra.
ton of our laws would demand, that per-
manent interest in or ownership of ouI
lands should not be given to these men,
until they have proved they can
be citizens worthy of being
trusted with the upbuilding of
anation such as has been planned for us 10y
our forefathers.
Another species of alien ownership of
American soil goes as condemned without
discussion, that of foreign corporations
holding our lands. Money enough at
present, is fraudulently spent at home to
warp the regulation of our laws, without
making it possible for foreign million
aires to dictate from abroad the policy of
our government. This immigration ques-
ton daily is assuming more important
proportions. If of necessity the alien in
such numbers must be allowed here, then
the United States must first keep him in
the bounds of law, then use him to the
best advantage of the country, Two
problems that must be solved in the near
future.
THE CASH BALANCE.
The governmental financial statement
for April, elsewhere printed, indicates
ANYTHING lint an unsotisfactorv shnwino